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Saturday, January 29, 2011

One part of our work is in connecting people and resources to help set up partnerships to further the Gospel. This picture shows one of the meetings that took place in a coffee shop during our recent trip to Slovakia, where we set up a meeting between our friend Chip, his co-worker Nesha , and Chris, a missionary from the UK who is currently transitioning from Slovakia to Moldova. This conversation may result in a Bible camp for children in Moldova later this year (http://thegraingame.org). Another meeting the same day was to discuss a possible camp for Roma children in Slovakia. Please pray that these camps, as well as the many others also in the planning stages, will through solid biblical teaching help to raise up a new generation to follow Christ.

From left to right: Gary, Chris Elston, James "Chip" Riley, Nesha Smelley

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Gary will be leaving in the morning for a two-week trip around the Balkans with a national pastor and our friend Chip, who is making connections for future camps for kids. Please pray that they will be able to connect with everyone that they need to, that there will be opportunities to share, and for safety in their travels. Also please pray for the rest of the team as we stay here in the Debrecen area and continue with the work here.

Thanks!

=======================UPDATE: Gary, Chip, and those they were traveling with all made it safely back home after almost 2 weeks of intense travel, on-site prayer, and meetings with people all across the Balkans. Thank you for your prayers for them; praise the Lord for the contacts that were made and for the future possibilities for ministry that are now being considered. Please pray for provision for the projects, for wisdom in decision-making, and that the Lord will work in a mighty way through the ministry that will result.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Here are some pictures from the last coffeehouse of 2010, when we had a Christmas celebration. Along with decorating Christmas cookies and gingerbread men and stringing popcorn for the tree, we sang Silent Night in as many languages as we could. And as usual, there was plenty of time to chat and share about what's important in life. We had a great time!

Tonight (Jan. 20) will be the first coffeehouse of the semester following a break for the holidays...please pray that it will continue to be a blessing to many, and that we will have wisdom and good communication in sharing with those who come.

Monday, January 10, 2011

This last Friday night several people from other churches in the area that Csaba pastors came to worship with us at the church plant (Csaba is the Hungarian pastor who is partnering with us in the work.) Two Tiszafüred ladies were also there, so along with our own team we had a nice group - it was very encouraging! Aubree, Seth and I led in some praise songs, then Gary taught from the Scripture. We were going back to the basics of faith, and talking about what Scripture is and how God uses it in our lives (2 Tim. 3:16). At the end there was a testimony from one of the visiting ladies about how the Lord was working in a troubled relationship she had been having with a neighbor, and the peace she had found in Christ.

Praise the Lord with us for the work the Lord is doing in our area, and pray that many in Tiszafüred will come to repentence and new life in Christ.

Monday, January 3, 2011

This building is the culture house in Tiszafüred [TEE sah few red], where we have been renting a room each Friday evening for the new church plant. It's about an hour's drive from Debrecen. There is no other Baptist church in the city, but Csaba Pesti, the pastor from the town of Karcag, is partnering with us in the work. At this point only one person is coming regularly besides our team, Pastor Csaba, and some people from his church: the lady's name is Ida, and she is a very special person. We've had some really good discussions during our Bible teaching times--led alternately by Gary and Pastor Csaba--and she absolutely loves the praise time with Aubree and Seth playing their guitars. Please pray for this new friend of ours, and also that many others in the town would come join us and open their hearts to the Gospel. Also pray for wisdom and direction, as Csaba is currently discussing with his church people the possibility of changing the time and place for the work there.